RF UN ambassador calls on Somali leader to promptly form executive power

October 17, 2012, 0:35 UTC+3The eight-year transition period in Somalia ended on September 10

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UNITED NATIONS, October 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s permanent representative at the United Nations Vitaly Churkin has called on Somalia’s new authorities to waste no time to form the executive vertical of power.

“It is vital to form the vertical of executive power the soonest possible, to outline the country’s development priorities, including the implementation of the outstanding roadmap tasks, and to begin their implementation,” he said on Tuesday at a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

He reiterated that Russia would continue to take an active part in international efforts to offer all-round help to Somalia, including humanitarian aid.

The eight-year transition period in Somalia ended on September 10, when Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was elected the country’s new president. Shortly after taking office, he began to form the cabinet and appointed Abdi Farah Shirdon Saaid Somalia’s prime minister. “All this lays the groundwork for strengthening stability and gives an important impetus to the country’s political and socio-economic development,” Churkin said.

According to the Russia diplomat, partnership between parties to the peace process and closer cooperation between the international community and the Somali authorities will promote further stabilization of the situation in the country. At the same time, he urged to spare no effort to quell the radical Islamist group al-Shabab, which has close links with al-Qaeda. “No stabilization is possible without it,” he stressed.

He also called on the Somali authorities to take effort to stabilize the situation in regions that have been freed from insurgents by the Somali armed forces and peacekeepers of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Having stressed the key role of the African Union in keeping law and order in Somalia, Churkin noted that after AMISOM forces leave the country its national security forces must take all the responsibility for securing domestic stability.